30 Facts About Roy Sproson

Roy Sproson was an English footballer and football manager for Port Vale.

Roy Sproson is sixteenth on the all time Football League appearance list.

Roy Sproson served under eight managers before taking the reins himself between 1974 and 1977.

Roy Sproson finished with around 350 more appearances for the club than his closest rival, and teammate of fifteen years, Harry Poole.

Roy Sproson was born above a greengrocer's shop at 3 Slater Street, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent on 23 September 1930.

Roy Sproson was apparently named after the local featherweight boxer Roy Berrisford, after his father returned home from witnessing a Berrisford victory to find his wife had given birth in his absence.

Roy Sproson played for Stoke City at an amateur level for twelve months in the late 1940s.

Roy Sproson was courted by teams such as Aston Villa, West Ham United and Bolton Wanderers.

Roy Sproson's father wished him to follow in his footsteps and sign for Stoke City.

Roy Sproson started the last five games of the season after sharing the No 6 jersey with Jimmy Todd and Bill McGarry.

However following the appointment of Freddie Steele in December 1951, Roy Sproson was dropped in favour of the experienced Stan Palk.

Roy Sproson won his place back in March 1952 and held on to his shirt for many years.

Roy Sproson was one of the men that made it happen, playing in 53 games.

Roy Sproson helped keeper Ray King keep thirty clean sheets in the league.

Roy Sproson played in Vale's FA Cup semi-final defeat to West Bromwich Albion.

Roy Sproson had little trouble adapting to life in the Second Division the following season.

Low adopted an attacking policy, but still relied on men like Roy Sproson to hold the fort at the back.

Terry Miles took his No 6 jersey, though both Alan Martin and Roy Pritchard failed to hold on to the No 3 jersey, which Sproson claimed in February 1959.

Roy Sproson was made the inaugural winner of the Port Vale FC Player of the Year award in 1967.

Roy Sproson finished with a grand total 837 starts and five substitute appearances, being yellow carded just twice in his professional career.

Roy Sproson's insisted that the players not call him 'boss' and in the spirit of Norman Low his footballing philosophy was to go out and 'entertain the public'.

Roy Sproson added to his squad with youngsters Ian Osborne and Kevin Kennerley, and experienced midfielder Geoff Davies.

Roy Sproson brought in three players on free transfers: Jeff Hemmerman, Grahame McGifford, and Bill Bentley.

Roy Sproson was sacked in October 1977 after a poor run of results.

Roy Sproson refused the club's offer of "an executive position dealing with the club's youth policy".

Roy Sproson ran a newsagent's shop until he died on 24 January 1997, aged 66.

Former England international and Port Vale teammate Colin Grainger wrote in his autobiography that "[Roy Sproson] was a player of First Division standard".

Roy Sproson was a true-legend who combined style and steel with loyalty.

Roy Sproson's older brother, Jess, played as a forward for Vale between 1940 and 1947, and his nephew, Phil, was a central defender between 1978 and 1989.

Roy Sproson shared a testimonial game with Selwyn Whalley in 1964.